Here is what I am starting with. Picked it up yesterday. It is a 125g RR tank. I would have preferred a 180g because I am not fond of the 18" width of a 125g but for $200 I could not pass it up. I am a broke single mom so this will be a L O N G project, lol. That is ok. I have my 65g reef to keep me occupied untill I can buy everything I need for this one. After 15+ years in this hobby I have plenty of patience.

It came with a big sump so that will save $$ and it also has all of the plumbing. I plan to make the durso stand pipes for it so it will be fairly quiet. My boyfriend with be here in the next week to add floor jacks in the basement under where the tank will eventually be placed.

I am all for DIY projects so I will be building a canopy. I prefer not to have a canopy because of the heat issues with MH but I also do not like being blinded when looking at the tank I figure we will get it wet in a few months. (tax time (: )

Nice Angie! I think its awesome that you are still going for it on a tight budget. Hit me up if you want to try and get some of that stuff for cheap. I'm constantly searching around the internet for cheap equipment for my warehouse setup and I can keep an eye out for you. Also, I could help you out with some of the rock and salt. I have a ton of those right now (actually I have more than a ton of each lol). Anything I can do to help just let me know.

Thanks Kris. I did order a 200g box of salt yesterday from Dr. Foster and Smith with my Christmas gift card I got from my daughter. I also ordered a 25# box of Marco rock yesterday as well. I know I will need more rock, so I will let you you know when I need it.

As for the Tank....after cleaning it up I think I will be buying a NEW tank. It is pretty scratched. Not sure I can live with that. I will probably be moving within a year or so, so I may just wait for the move and purchase a new tank then for ease of transferring everything during the move.

Lighting:

I plan to get the lighting in the next week or so. Will be 3-250w MH and vho actinics. Thank you Jelly!!

2- dual head 1600 gph pumps will be ordered next week as well. 6ft is a long way to push flow so those should work for now.

I have 75g of rodi water made & 45g of premixed salt water plus the tank water from the 65g.

Maybe this tank will be up sooner then I thought

Angie

I'll frag mine if you'll frag yours ...All of the best gardens are underwater.

Off to Janesville tomorrow to pick up the lights. I had planned to have the plumbing done today, but noticed my PVC cement is exactly that..CEMENT in a can, lol. Hate it when it dries out. WIll get more another day. I decided to give in to the chronic migraine I have been dealing with for the past week and do nothing today I hope tomorrow is better..

I'll frag mine if you'll frag yours ...All of the best gardens are underwater.

I got the tank moved into its final spot. The canopy is in the garage 'till the paint dries. Floor jacks are in place. Additional sand will be here by the end of the week along with 2-dual head powerheads that do 1600gph. OF kits should be here tomorrow. (I did not like the ones in there at all) RODI unit is running around the clock ....By next week is may actually get wet, lol. Maybe

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I'll frag mine if you'll frag yours ...All of the best gardens are underwater.

2 more. I did not want the balasts on the top of the canopy or on the floor behind the tank. Easy solution was a slim stand behind the stand. I had the room there because the tank is about 10 inches away from the wall. The reason for this is because the lighting is on a sliding rail system. (jelly built it) I can push the entire lighting system back so I have full access to the tank without having to lift a heavy canopy. Even a flip back door on a canopy is a p.i.t.a for me. I am short, lol. Also had to level the tank today...not fun by myself, but I did get it done.

I am making water 24/7....too bad I can only make so much at a time. I have a 33g brute that I usually use for RODI top off and a 20g brute that I use for mixing new SW. Both are on wheeled bases thank goodness.

The last 3 bags of sand should be here today. I am still waiting for the Mag 12 and the 2-1300gph dual powerheads to get here. I have 20 frags on the way from an online vendor. (will be here today or Thursday depending on how soon they get them out) All zoanthids and LPS. First time I have tried Acans, Chalice, and favias. I have all softies in my 65g and I wanted more color in this tank. I figured the 20 frags will hold me over untill tax returns get here and I can afford a few larger colonies. I do like watching frags grow though....I have lots of time...and not so much money

Angie

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stand for the MH balasts behind the tank

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Sump and plumbing

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I'll frag mine if you'll frag yours ...All of the best gardens are underwater.

I will have to post some better pics of my ghetto canopy. It is made of styrofoam covered in heat sealant. I can just lift if off and it weight less then a pound. Not sure how it will hold up to the heat...but it did not cost anything to make since I had it all here. As soon as I borrow a truck I will make one out of plywood. 8ft piece of plywood is not fitting in my Rav4, lol.

I also have 2 coralife timer / power strips for the lights. Between those, the auto top off with the dosing pump, and the wavemaker is should be pretty easy to manage the tank.

BTW....walmart has pickeling lime on clearance $1.00 for a large plastic can. I bought 15 of them ...think I am set there for awhile.

I'll frag mine if you'll frag yours ...All of the best gardens are underwater.